Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-07-23
A BIG BAG OF DEER.
Col. Glider Tells q Wonderful
Story About a Day ofSport.
Forty Eight Reindeer Killed While Travel.
ing in the North.

One of the stories told with pride by
Col. Glider and Lieut.. Griffiths and
which IS vouchcd for by them, was of a
wonderful bag Of deer on the Nelson
river, while they were on the road to
Hudson Bay last October. Their voy-
age by boat had been uninterrupted to
point 900 miles southwest of York fac
tory, when suddenly one night the river
froze over and navigation was closed for
the season. They were delayed a day
or two IN preparing sleds for the remain
der of the journey, and the ice became
several inches thick, as the weather had
developed regular cold snap.
While in camp one morning they were
awakened about daylight by distant
cracking on the ice, and shifting and
snorting in the frosty air. Looking il
the direction of the mysterious voices
they were as;onshei to behold a mag
nifccnt herd Of reindeer crossing the
river on the ice. The animals were emil
grating southwark to fnd good winter
feeding ground. The herd was scat
tered along for quite distance, the ami
mails being two or three abreast, and in
order so regular as to attract attention
for the resemblance to cavalry on
march.
A big, bold buck was in the lead, and
the sight Of SO much wild game in one
body was rare treat to the travellers
who had been accustomed TO buy their
venison in Washington Market at high
prices. The large branching anters of
the deer glistcned in the first slant rays
of the morning sun while they tossed
their heads proudly in the air. There
were not less than 200 animals in the
herd, and their sides sleek and fat.
Every man in camp was aroused and
excited in an instant, and they seized
their guns and commenced to crawl
around in the snow to gain al vantageous
positions in case the herd should come
[
hand kerchief on pole, the animals
sighted it at once and stopped. After
stamping the ground for awhile and sniff
ing the air the curiosity Of the deer got
the better of them, and they gradually
approached the camp in acompact mass
to within 100 yards. At prearranged
signal from Colonel Glider there was a
tremendous explosion, which echoed far
and wide in the forests, and twelve
brceeh-oading Winchester rifles COM
menced their deadly work.
Round after round was fired, the leaden
hail crashing into the terror-stricken
( animals as long as one renamed in sight
! Reindeer fell right and left in twos and
threes and half dozens until there was q
dark mass of carcasses and the snow was
wet with blood for rods around When
the smoke cleared away the ten Indian
boatmen drew their dangerous look ing
knives and rushed among the dead and
wounded, cutting tile throats of the deer
to make sure of them and to benefit the
meat by blood-letting. Several poor
animals with broken legs and injured
backs crawled into the woods but the
Indians took the trail and captured
them The carcasses were brought to
camp and dressed and cached upon a
high platform of poles to await the re.
turn trip
There were just forty eight dead rein
deer in that bag. 1t was the biggest
day for sport recorded during the whole
four months travel, and probably is
equal has never been known anywhere
around the world. Even the celebrated
Gordon Cumming could not boast oi
fortv-eight deer bagged in one day.
These reindeer were fat, and the meat
was excellent eating. The animals were
estimated TO weigh about 100 pound:
each, the weight being readily ascer-
tanned bv balancing a man Of that known
weight at one end OF plank, and deer
on the other end. The venison wa
place.l on the platform to keep tht
wolves from levour NJ it, and when the
travellers returned several weeks later tht
meat vas found frozen hard and vel
preserved. II New York S.ar.
Grabs Robbiug Birds Nests.